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Reviews
Guns, Germs, and Steel (2005)
This is about why history happened, not what happened
The documentary presents an original theory about "Guns, Germs and Steel". The series graphically portray several episodes strongly supporting the theory, and defend the theory against common criticism.
I was deeply puzzled to find user comments complaining about lack of new information in these series. They say documentary presents information which is taught in middle school. Indeed, it does. In fact, I greatly enjoyed the original look at the information which I have known since middle school and the unexpected analysis.
So, if you like knowing WHY things work, if you have taken apart the telephone trying to determine how it worked, if you have gone to the farm to see how farm works and how cows are milked, you will enjoy this series. A definite recommendation.
Po shchuchemu veleniyu (1938)
Classic Russian folk tale
A wonderful example of prewar Soviet cinematography has been recently released on DVD in Russia. The story is based on a well known folk tale about a magical pike. The movie uses details from other fairy tales to add the flavor. The digital restoration makes this beautiful black and white movie enjoyable to watch. Acting is very spirited, yet do not expect modern "professional" acting nor 21-st century digital effects. Have your imagination run wild watching the magically propelled wood stove.
Unfortunately, the DVD has only original Russian track. Neither translation nor subtitles are available.
Earthsea (2004)
Less than I expected
The first series in the "Legend" miniseries could have been a powerful adaptation of one of my favorite books. After all, our expectations were set by the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy with achieved a superb adaptation of a very tough and very famous set of books. The budget of the "Legends" is noticeably lower than that of the "Rings", and it shows. The quality of acting is somewhat lower. The characters are significantly shallower than those described in the book. The sets are OK, but the computer graphics is outright pathetic. With the book dedicated to magic, the potential was superb, the even a big screen cheaper movie like "Harry Potter" found more impressive graphics than the "Legends".
These are OK mini-series, and I will definitely watch the second part. For now, 6/10 for trying.
Red Planet (2000)
*BORING* movie (no spoilers)
This movie is BORING. I watched it on TV and couldn't keep myself awake. I had to flip the channels during the particular bad scenes just to keep myself from dozing off. Overall, the movie did have a plot, so it can be watched. The question is why would you do that and whether you have better things to do.
Terminal Invasion (2002)
Below average movie for Sci-Fi channel
A movie with "aliens ate my mom and want to get me" plot. Mediocre acting matches well with below average plot. The idea is pretty simple: A bunch of humans are isolated while aliens run around and eat humans while in human bodies. That is, they eat humans after they turn from innocent humans to disgusting slime-dripping aliens. Make sense, right? I particularly liked the part when one alien kills another alien while trying to be a good human... just to confuse the person watching the movie -- the action makes absolutely no sense plot-wise. Enjoy wasting two perfectly good hours watching this movie on Sci-Fi channel.
Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
A movie worth watching
The one line summary above is a perfect characterization of this movie. It is certainly worth watching, potentially more than once. Inventiveness is clearly the strongest point of the movie, it has other strong and weak points.
The movie is worth high grades, but the 55% of 10s in user ratings is simply a joke. It's not real. I don't know how that happened -- it's probably someone hacking into the system.
My grade 8/10.
My reference grading system: Shawshank Redemption 10/10; Star Wars (original) 9/10; Star Wars (episode II) 7/10; Barb Wire 1/10
The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)
The jokes in this movie _are_ funny
If you read the reviews below that describe this movie as boring or racist, don't bother -- those reviewers didn't really watch the movie and/or didn't understand it. Watch this movie yourself, enjoy it and make up your opinion.
Boring -- If you get bored by being laughed at yourself just a healthy bit, then this movie _is_ boring. This movie provides an alternative view on the western civilization and its advantages and disadvantages... and makes fun when appropriate!
Racist -- Some people claim this movie makes fun of African natives. They got it wrong. This movie makes fun of both African colonists, or those natives who adopted Western style of life just a bit too much. I felt deep respect to the wit and intellect those little Bush-men portrayed in the movie.
This movie is full of intelligent jokes which will make your laugh, as opposed to physical "jokes" in the latest comedies that make me dizzy. As I said before, watch this movie yourself, enjoy it and make up your opinion. It's worth it, trust me.
You Can Count on Me (2000)
Reality in the movies and the in user reviews
I've just read all the reviews and I want to introduce some reality into them. Reading of other user reviews is a pre-requisite for this review.
The movie "You can count on me" is being described as a gem, one of the best movies of 2000, etc. It's not. It's a very non-Hollywood plot giving an ordinary description of ordinary life of ordinary people going around their ordinary business. The realism of this plot is extra-ordinary; I felt as if I was watching my next-door neighbor window.
Given all that glory, I had a nagging question in the back of my mind -- so what? This movie had no point nor morale. You may argue that Hollywood movies try too hard to make a statement, going into gross simplifications and extremes. This movie is a fine demonstration that a movie cannot be made without a point, without some morale. It makes it bland and boring... just like spying on your neighbor.
In Soviet Union, there was a genre called "socialist realism". That was a genre of a camera man going to a factory or a mine and filming ordinary everyday work. Sometimes, it was documentary, sometimes, it was fiction. In either case, those movies were dead boring because there was nothing special about them to justify going to a movie theater.
This movie fits well within "socialist realism" genre. You can go to the movie theater to watch this (albeit unusual for the movie theater) plot about your neighbors, or you can stay at home watching your neighbors window. You will find both activities equally rewarding.
Child of Darkness, Child of Light (1991)
A Horror Movie airs on Sci-Fi Channel
Actually, the movie is neither horror nor Sci-Fi. With a very strong Christian religious theme, this movie delivers minimal content and no suspense. Second-tier actors do half-decent jobs of reading their boring roles. The only good performance is by Sydney Penny who plays a role of a mother of ... I won't spoil the movie, it's either Christ or Anti-Christ. Avoid watching this movie unless you a Christian religious fanatic obsessed with apocalypse.
Being a non-Christian, I had to force myself to watch this movie just because I wanted to write this review. It's a pity that Sci-Fi channel had to air this movie at the peak evening time.
Pleasantville (1998)
Good actors. Average script. Way too much politics.
This movie is no truman show. The main characters are "superman" and "superwoman" (gotta be politically correct huh) who save the city which doesn't think in the "right" way. If this movie was filmed in 50s, these would be two white guys who "save" a 30s city which treats blacks in the fair way. Way too much politics and brainwashing in this movie. 4/10 (all four points are for actor performance).
The Langoliers (1995)
Great story, so-so movie
I've just finished watching the movie, and I gotta tell you I must go to the bookstore now and buy a book. The movie is logically divided into two series (which happened to be on different days). If you want to enjoy the movie, do NOT watch it at once. It's too long for that. Watch the series on consecutive days and you will appreciate the story.
This was a rare movie that had me scared. I am not afraid of horror movies -- the graphical effects rarely impress me. Ghosts, vampires, aliens (pun intended) are too simple and too unrealistic. Although this movie's visual effects deserve to be better, this movie plot messes up your head. If you are reading this review, PLEASE do NOT read the plot. It's a HUGE spoiler. When you watch the movie, just watch it and try to figure out what's going on. You will see and you won't regret watching this movie.
Pleasantville (1998)
Good actors. Average script. Way too much politics.
This movie is no truman show. The main characters are "superman" and "superwoman" (gotta be politically correct huh) who save the city which doesn't think in the "right" way. If this movie was filmed in 50s, these would be two white guys who "save" a 30s city which treats blacks in the fair way. Way too much politics and brainwashing in this movie. 4/10 (all four points are for actor performance).